How To Get Rid Of Bacne

From the beauty desk to your bathroom - Companys Natalie Lukaitis has all the products you need to banish bacne for good

If the thought of a backless dress makes you break out in a nervous sweat, don’t worry, you’re not alone. According to the NHS around 8 in 10 teenagers experience acne, while 1 in 3 suffer from body blemishes. So before you commit yourself to a life of polo necks, consider treating the area giving you grief.

One of the most common causes of acne comes from oil mixed with dead skin cells, which clogs pores, creating a breeding ground for bacteria - but other factors such as stress, fatty foods, sweating and even genes can play a part in creating black heads, pimples and cysts. The good news? There’s still hope in getting rid of it, all you have to do is treat and prevent. Simply follow this step-by-step for 8 weeks and you’ll notice a difference.

Avoid regular soap and instead, use a gentle body cleanser to wash away the day’s grime. Scientists have determined that a skin pH of below 5 — the ideal being 4.7 — is beneficial to overall skin health. Soap, in particular, can cause the skin's pH to go above 5, leading to dryness, scaliness, and breakouts. Over scrubbing can cause damage to your skin too, so make sure you’re only cleansing once to twice a day.

The best way to fight breakouts is with benzoyl peroxide (it oxygenates the skin to dry and peel the inside of the pore) and a salicylic/glycolic acid based treatment (they breakdown the glue that bonds dead skin cells together). Simply apply it to the affected area after cleansing and leave to dry before getting dressed.

We recommend:

Murad’s Clarifying Body Spray, £35 contains salicylic acid and lemon grass oil (an anti bacterial and antiseptic essential oil that nourishes and heals skin). It has a 360 degree nozzle too, so you can get hard to reach areas too.